102 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 
b%. Culmen as long as middle toe, without claw, its greatest width not more 
than one-third the length of the culmen; the end much flattened, and 
nail very slightly hooked. (Subgenus Aristonetta BArRD.’) 
Adult male: Head and neck reddish brown, the former blackish on top; 
chest, upper back, lower rump, and upper and under tail-coverts, 
black; rest of plumage (except quills, etc.) white, the upper parts, 
sides, flanks, and ventral region, finely waved or vermiculated with 
dusky. Adult female: Head, neck, chest, and upper back, raw- 
umber brown, the fore part of the head and fore-neck whitish ; 
scapulars, sides, and flanks similar, but tips of the feathers vermicu- 
lated with whitish. Length about 20.00-23.50, wing 8.75-9.25, 
culmen 2.10-2.50, greatest depth of bill .75-.80. Figgs 2.48 X 1.76, 
pale grayish drab or very pale grayish olive-green. Hab. Whole 
of North America, breeding far northward. 
147. A, vallisneria (Wits.). Canvas-back, 
a. Culmen shorter than inner toe, with claw; bill wider at end than at base; head 
and neck black in adult males. (Subgenus Fuligula STEPHENS.) 
b, Speculum white, tipped with black. : 
¢. Back and scapulars in adult male grayish white irregularly waved or 
zigzagged with black; no pendent crest on occiput. 
d', Flanks immaculate white. 
é'. Six inner quills with a distinct white space on the inner web. 
Adult male: Head, neck, and chest uniform black, the first 
with a greenish gloss; wing-coverts dusky, “ grizzled” with 
grayish white; bill (in life) pale grayish blue, or bluish 
white, with black nail. Adult male at end of breeding sea- 
son: “Plumage resembling that of the female, but the 
brown on the head and neck is blackish brown, the back is 
more barred with dirty white, the beak is lighter blue, and 
the eyes richer yellow.” (Dresser.) Adult female: Head 
and neck snuff-brown, the former white round base of bill; 
chest, ventral region, and lower tail-coverts pale grayish 
brown, fading into white on belly, ete.; sides and flanks 
deeper brown; upper parts nearly plain brownish dusky, 
the wings much as in the male. Downy young: “Crown, 
nape, and upper parts uniform dark olive-brown; throat, 
sides of the head, and fore part of the neck, yellowish 
white; a dull grayish band crosses the lower neck, rest of 
the under parts dull yellowish, the flanks grayish yellow.” 
(Dresszr.) Length 18.00-20.00, wing 8.25-8.50 (8.42), 
culmen 1.95-2.05 (2.00), greatest width of bill .90-1.00 
1 Aristonetta Batrp, B. N. Am. 1858, 793. Type, Anas vallisneria Wits. This subgenus, which was unani- 
mously accepted by the A. 0. U. Committee, was accidentally omitted from the Check List. 
